Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington Headshot

Actress

Birth Name: Kerry Marisa Washington

Birth Date: January 31, 1977

Age: 47 years old

Birth Place: Bronx, New York

Spouses: Nnamdi Asomugha

Partners: David Moscow

Best known for playing strong-willed crisis manager Olivia Pope for seven seasons of Shonda Rhimes' ground-breaking political thriller "Scandal" (ABC, 2012-18), Kerry Washington also achieved awards recognition for her roles in "Ray" (2005), "Django Unchained" (2012) and "Confirmation" (HBO, 2016).

Born in The Bronx, NY in 1977 to a professor mother and real estate broker father, Kerry Washington attended her home state's TADA! Youth Theater company in her teens and after graduating from George Washington University with a degree in sociology and anthropology, she further honed her acting talents at New York's Michael Howard Studios. She made her screen debut in a 1996 episode of "ABC Afterschool Special" (ABC, 1972-1997) and graduated to the big screen four years later with a co-starring role in coming-of-age "Our Song" (2000).

Washington also took center stage as a shoplifter in "Lift" (2001) before playing a single mother in teen flick "Save the Last Dance" (2001), Chris Rock's love interest in comedy "Bad Company" (2002) and Don Cheadle's mistress in legal drama "The United States of Leland" (2003) as well as enjoying a five-episode stint in the short-lived "100 Centre Street" (A&E Network, 2001-02). Minor roles in Philip Roth adaptation "The Human Stain" (2003) and post-9/11 tale "Strip Search" (2004) followed, as did the more substantial parts of Ving Rhames' rebellious sister in crime thriller "Sin" (2003), Omar Epps' girlfriend in boxing drama "Against the Ropes" (2003) and Ray Charles' second wife Della Bea Robinson in acclaimed biopic "Ray" (2005).

Washington then impressed as Anthony Mackie's lesbian ex-fiancee Fatima in Spike Lee's "She Hate Me" (2004), appeared in interweaving relationship drama "Sexual Life" (2005) and joined the superhero world with the role of blind sculptor Alicia Masters in "Fantastic Four" (2005). Her prolific streak continued with turns as Angelina Jolie's best friend Jasmine in action comedy "Mr and Mrs Smith" (2005), mother figure Vanessa in the Wayans brothers' farce "Little Man" (2005) and dictator Idi Amin's spouse Kay in biopic "The Last King of Scotland" (2005) and a recurring gig as lawyer Chelina Hall in "Boston Legal" (ABC, 2004-08).

In between reuniting with Rock in "I Think I Love My Wife" (2007), Lee in "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008) and Mackie in "Night Catches Us" (2010), Washington played a terrorized newlywed in "Lakeview Terrace" (2008), a transsexual prostitute in "Life Is Hot in Crackdown" (2009) and an aspiring adoptive parent in "Mother and Child" (2009). She then joined an all-star cast in Tyler Perry's "For Colored Girls" (2010), showed up in indie comedy "The Details" (2011) and portrayed house slave Broomhilda Von Schaft in Quentin Tarantino's revisionist western "Django Unchained" (2012).

Washington's career then shifted to the small screen when she landed the role of powerful crisis manager Olivia Pope in "Scandal" (ABC, 2012-18). During her six-year stint in Shonda Rhimes' political thriller, for which she picked up multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nods, Washington also joined Craig Robinson in comedy "Peeples" (2013), voiced statistical analyst Natalie Certain in Pixar animations "Cars 3" (2017) and earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Anita Hill, the lawyer who alleged she'd been sexually harassed by U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, in TV movie "Confirmation" (HBO, 2016). Following the show's natural end, Washington played George's nemesis Helen in one-off revival "Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons" (ABC, 2019), reprised her role as the mother of a missing teen in the adaptation of Broadway play "American Son" (2019), joined the star-studded cast of Ryan Murphy's musical comedy "The Prom" (2020) and co-starred as Reese Witherspoon's rival Mia in "Little Fires Everywhere" (Hulu, 2020-), a multigenerational drama which the pair also executive produced.

Credits

Black Women in America: The Road to 2024

Self
Show
2024

The Six Triple Eight

Actor
Major Charity Adams
Movie
2024

The Six Triple Eight

Executive Producer
Movie
2024

Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water -- A Conversation With Robin Roberts

Self
Show
2023

UnprisonedStream

Actor
Paige Alexander
Series
2023
96%

UnprisonedStream

Executive Producer
Series
2023
96%

Reasonable DoubtStream

Director
Series
2022
100%

Reasonable DoubtStream

Executive Producer
Series
2022
100%

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

The School for Good and EvilStream

Actor
Professor Dovey
Movie
2022
37%

Live in Front of a Studio Audience

Executive Producer
Special
2021

CBS Mornings

Guest
News
2021

The Disney Holiday SingalongStream

Music Performer
Movie
2020

Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy

Host
Show
2020

Wilmore

Guest
Talk
2020

The Drew Barrymore ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2020

Global Goal: Unite for Our Future -- The Concert

Actor
Show
2020

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

Little Fires Everywhere: Extras

Actor
Show
2020

One World: Together at Home

Actor
Show
2020

Little Fires EverywhereStream

Actor
Mia Warren
Series
2020
79%

Little Fires EverywhereStream

Executive Producer
Series
2020
79%

The Fight

Producer
Movie
2020

The PromStream

Actor
Mrs. Greene
Movie
2020
54%

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times

Executive Producer
Show
2019

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Guest
Talk
2019

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's All in the Family and The Jeffersons

Actor
Helen Willis
Show
2019

All About All in the Family and The Jeffersons

Guest
Show
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

American SonStream

Actor
Kendra
Movie
2019
46%

American SonStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2019
46%

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

The Alec Baldwin ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2018
0%

Five Points

Executive Producer
Show
2018

The Best of Tavis Smiley

Guest
Show
2018

PeopleTV Specials

Guest
Show
2018

Wyeth

Actor
Movie
2018

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Cars 3Stream

Voice
Natalie Certain
Movie
2017
69%

ChelseaStream

Guest
Talk
2016
41%

Scandal: Cast and Creator Live at PALEYFEST

Guest
Show
2016

The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60

Guest
Show
2016

ConfirmationStream

Actor
Anita Hill
Movie
2016
84%

ConfirmationStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2016
84%

The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream

Guest
Talk
2015

MSNBC Special: The 4th Annual Global Citizen Festival: A Concert to End Extreme Poverty

Host
Show
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Scandal: The Cast at PALEYLIVE NY

Guest
Show
2015

Behind the Story With the Paley Center

Guest
Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James Corden

Guest
Talk
2015

Variety Studio: Actors on Actors

Guest
Show
2014

How to Get Away With MurderStream

Guest Star
Olivia Pope
Series
2014
88%

Thank God It's Thursday on ABC

Guest
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Young Hollywood's Greatest

Actor
Show
2014

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

Scandal: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

Peeples: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

Django Unchained - Exklusivt klipp

Actor
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Scandal: Cast and Creators Live at the Paley Center

Guest
Show
2013

Vanity Fair's Hollywood

Guest
Show
2013

Mo'Nique Show: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

Django Unchained Interview Special

Self
Show
2013

PeeplesStream

Actor
Grace Peeples
Movie
2013
38%

Girl Rising

Narrator
Movie
2013

Django Unchained

Guest Star
Show
2012

Scandal: Cast and Creators Live at PALEYFEST

Guest
Show
2012

Katie

Guest
Talk
2012

Anderson Live

Guest
Show
2012

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

ScandalStream

Actor
Olivia Pope
Series
2012
93%

ScandalStream

Director
Series
2012
93%

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

A Thousand WordsStream

Actor
Caroline McCall
Movie
2012
0%

Django UnchainedStream

Actor
Broomhilda von Shaft
Movie
2012
87%

LIVE with Kelly

Guest
Show
2011

Black Panther

Actor
Princess Shuri
Show
2011

Dish NationStream

Guest
Talk
2011

Olmsted and America's Urban Parks

Narrator
Show
2011

The DetailsStream

Actor
Rebecca Mazzoni
Movie
2011
46%

Black Panther: The Animated Series

Voice
Princess Shuri
Show
2010

Night Catches UsStream

Actor
Patricia
Movie
2010
79%

For Colored GirlsStream

Actor
Kelly/Blue
Movie
2010
32%

The People Speak

Actor
Show
2009

The Mo'Nique Show

Actor
Show
2009

The Mo'Nique Show

Guest
Show
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien

Guest
Talk
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

Majka I Dijete

Actor
Movie
2009

Life Is Hot in Cracktown

Actor
Marybeth
Movie
2009

Mother and Child

Actor
Lucy
Movie
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Lakeview TerraceStream

Actor
Lisa Mattson
Movie
2008
44%

Miracle at St. Anna

Actor
Zana Wilder
Movie
2008

Today With Kathie Lee & Hoda

Guest
Show
2007

Chelsea Lately

Actor
Talk
2007

Chelsea Lately

Guest
Talk
2007

I Think I Love My WifeStream

Actor
Nikki
Movie
2007
19%

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver SurferStream

Actor
Alicia Masters
Movie
2007
38%

Our World With Black Enterprise

Guest
Show
2006

PsychStream

Guest Star
Series
2006
89%

etalk

Guest
Show
2006

Little ManStream

Actor
Vanessa
Movie
2006
12%

The Last King of ScotlandStream

Actor
Kay Amin
Movie
2006
87%

The Dead Girl

Actor
Rosetta
Movie
2006

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

Entertainment Tonight Canada

Guest
Show
2005

The Martha Stewart Show

Guest
Reality
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

Mr. & Mrs. SmithStream

Actor
Jasmine
Movie
2005
59%

Fantastic FourStream

Actor
Alicia Masters
Movie
2005
28%

Project RunwayStream

Guest
Reality
2004

Boston LegalStream

Guest Star
Chelina Hall
Series
2004
86%

The Insider

Guest
Show
2004

Against the Ropes

Actor
Renee
Movie
2004

She Hate MeStream

Actor
Fatima
Movie
2004
19%

RayStream

Actor
Della Bea Robinson
Movie
2004
79%

Sexual Life

Actor
Rosalie
Movie
2004

Urban Style

Guest
Show
2003

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Real Time With Bill MaherStream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

The Human Stain

Actor
Ellie
Movie
2003

Sin

Actor
Kassie
Movie
2003

The United States of Leland

Actor
Ayesha
Movie
2003

Bad CompanyStream

Actor
Julie
Movie
2002

The GuardianStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

Save the Last DanceStream

Actor
Chenille Reynolds
Movie
2001
54%

Lift

Actor
Niecy
Movie
2001

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
Show
2000

DoctorsStream

Actor
Sandra Armstrong
Series
2000

Our Song

Actor
Lanisha Brown
Movie
2000

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

Kickin' It: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Entertainers: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1994

Extra

Guest
News
1994

NYPD BlueStream

Guest Star
Maya Young
Series
1993
83%

Late Show With David Letterman

Actor
Talk
1993

Late Show With David Letterman

Guest
Talk
1993

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Miss Peyton
Series
1989
85%

Starcade

Actor
Game Show
1982

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Good Morning America

Guest Star
News
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutKerry Washington

Actors Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington take a video on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic Party supporters are gathering in Chicago, as current Vice President Kamala Harris is named her party's presidential nominee. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Kerry Washington & Tony Goldwyn Have ‘Scandal’ Reunion at DNC: ‘Giving the People What They Want’

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery'

‘Knives Out 3’: Cast & Premiere Date for ‘Wake Up Dead Man’

Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington in 'Scandal'

Tony Goldwyn Wants ‘Scandal’ Costar Kerry Washington to Join ‘Law & Order’

Julia Roberts, Bob Odenkirk, and Terry Crews on 'Finding Your Roots'

9 Amazing ‘Finding Your Roots’ Reveals: Bob Odenkirk, Julia Roberts & More

Netflix Logo

Guess What is ‘Next on Netflix’? EVERYTHING! (VIDEO)

Kerry Washington on red carpet

Kerry Washington Discovered She Was Conceived Through Sperm Donor After Doing ‘Finding Your Roots’

'Billions,' 'Scandal,' and 'Suits'

If You’re Loving ‘Suits,’ Watch ‘Billions,’ ‘Scandal’ & More Shows

Tony Goldwyn, Kerry Washington, and Bellamy Young at SAG-AFTRA offices

‘Scandal’ Stars Reunite to Support SAG-AFTRA Picket Lines

Kerry Washington in Scandal

Shonda Rhimes Says She’d Revive ‘Scandal’s Olivia Pope for Another Series

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12 Most Divisive TV Love Triangles: ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Buffy’ & More

Delroy Lindo and Kerry Washington in 'UnPrisoned'
Preview

Kerry Washington & Delroy Lindo Tell ‘Very Human’ Father-Daughter Story in ‘UnPrisoned’

Aubrey Plaza, Kerry Washington, Michelle Yeoh at Critics Choice awards 2023

Critics Choice Awards: Best Red Carpet Looks from Aubrey Plaza to Michelle Yeoh (PHOTOS)

Emayatzy Corinealdi in Reasonable Doubt on Hulu
Preview

‘Reasonable Doubt’ Boss on Jax Stewart’s ‘Complicated’ Love Life in Hulu Legal Drama

Reasonable Doubt Angela Grovey and Emayatzy
Fall Preview

‘Reasonable Doubt’ Creator Previews Hulu’s New Steamy Legal Drama

Michael K Williams at 2012 Sundance Film Festival
Emmys

Kerry Washington Honors Michael K. Williams During 2021 Emmys

The Prom - James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, and Keegan-Michael Key

‘The Prom’: Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman & More Shine in Trailer for Netflix Musical (VIDEO)

the prom cast

‘The Prom’: Ryan Murphy Sets Premiere Date of Star-Studded Musical on Netflix

Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington - Scandal Hulu Binge

The Olivia-Fitz Romance & More Reasons to Add ‘Scandal’ to Your Watch List

Kerry Washington

‘Scandal’ Moves to Hulu: 8 Essential Episodes to Watch (VIDEO)

Scandal - Kerry Washington as Kerry Washington and Scott Foley as Jake Ballard

All Seasons of ‘Scandal’ to Stream Exclusively on Hulu Beginning in May

Reese Witherspoon Kerry Washington Little Fires Everywhere

Will ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ Have a Second Season?

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

TV Insider Podcast: ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ EP on Adapting the Book to Series

Reese Witherspoon - Little Fires Everywhere
Preview

3 Things to Know About ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ If You Didn’t Read the Book

Little Fires Everywhere Hulu Review
Review

Roush Review: ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ Scorches With Emotional Intensity

Little Fires Everywhere - Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon

‘Little Fires Everywhere’ Teases Deception and Drama in Full Trailer (VIDEO)

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
Preview

Hulu’s ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ May Have Surprises for Fans of the Book

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

Reese Witherspoon & Kerry Washington’s ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ Sets Premiere Date (VIDEO)

Gabrielle Union

12 Stars Supporting Gabrielle Union in Her ‘America’s Got Talent’ Drama (PHOTOS)

American Son

Netflix Releases First Footage of Kerry Washington’s ‘American Son’ (VIDEO)

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

First Look at Reese Witherspoon & Kerry Washington in ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ (PHOTO)

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‘All in the Family’ & ‘The Jeffersons’ Live Add Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson & More

Rosemarie DeWitt attends the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival

Rosemarie DeWitt Cast in Hulu’s ‘Little Fires Everywhere’

forbes-actresses

Highest-Paid TV Actresses 2018: Where Does Your Favorite Fall on the List?

Kerry Washington at the Bronx Children's Museum Gala 2018

Kerry Washington to Star in & Executive Produce New Sci-Fi Series

Scandal - Guillermo Diaz, Katie Lowes, Darby Stanchfield, Kerry Washington

Here’s Why ‘Scandal’ Ended the Way It Did With That Shocking Death

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Ahead of the ‘Scandal’ Series Finale, Look Back at the Top 8 Olivia Pope Fashion Moments

scandal-series-finale-cast

The ‘Scandal’ Cast Shares Their Biggest Jaw-Droppers From the Series

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in the Scandal episode 'People Like Me'

‘Scandal’ Sneak Peek: Could Olivia Actually Kill Cyrus? (VIDEO)

strong-tv-women

Celebrate International Women’s Day With These 10 Badass TV Women

Tom Brady

How Facebook Is Changing the Way We Watch TV

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Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington to Star in and Produce ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ Series

SCANDAL - KERRY WASHINGTON, VIOLA DAVIS

How the ‘Scandal’ & ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ Crossover Came to Be

KERRY WASHINGTON, VIOLA DAVIS

‘How to Get Away With Murder’-‘Scandal’ Crossover: Olivia and Annalise Storm Washington (PHOTOS)

Kerry Washington and Viola Davis attend the 47th NAACP Image Awards

The ‘Scandal’-‘How to Get Away with Murder’ Crossover Gets an Air Date

Sterling K. Brown holds his award for Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series Drama in 'This Is Us' in the press room during The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Sterling K. Brown Makes Golden Globes History as First Black Actor to Win TV Drama Award

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7 TV Stars Who Secretly Married Their Spouses

Scandal - TONY GOLDWYN

‘Scandal’: Can Fitz Save Olivia From Disappearing Into B613?

Scandal - Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant and Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope

5 Revelations From the ‘Scandal’ Season 7 Premiere

Scandal - BELLAMY YOUNG, returning favorites
Q&A

‘Scandal’ Star Bellamy Young Reveals If President Grant Should Watch Her Back

Scandal - Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young
Spoiler Alert

‘Scandal’ Season 6 Finale: Bellamy Young on Mellie’s Big Moment and the Episode’s Shockers

Scandal - Bellamy Young, Kerry Washington
Preview

‘Scandal’ Season Finale Preview: 5 Things We Know (VIDEO)

Scandal - Cast

Is ‘Scandal’ Ending After Next Season?

Scandal - Tony Goldwyn

‘Scandal’: 6 Surprising Moments From the 100th Episode

Scandal - TONY GOLDWYN
Preview

Olivia and Fitz Head Up a ‘Fantasy Hour’ for the 100th Episode of ‘Scandal’

Scandal - Cast

‘Scandal’ Celebrates 100 Episodes (PHOTOS)

Scandal – Katie Lowes, Kerry Washington, George Newbern

Watch: Scandal’s 100th Episode Dives Into a ‘Twisty, Crazy Parallel Universe’

Scandal - Cast

PaleyFest 2017: 100th Episode of ‘Scandal’ Dive Into Olivia’s Alt-Reality

Alfred Enoch, Mireille Enos, Bellamy Young

The Stars of TGIT: Then and Now (PHOTOS)

Connie Britton posts a selfie

International Women’s Day 2017: How TV’s Top Female Stars Celebrated

Jeff Perry in Scandal

‘Scandal’: Jeff Perry Breaks Down Cyrus’s Journey to ‘Utter Desperation’

Scandal

‘Scandal’: 5 Important Things to Remember Ahead of the Season 6 Premiere

Kerry Washington & Bellamy Young

‘Scandal’ Preview: Kerry Washington & Bellamy Young Spill What’s Coming (VIDEO)

Scandal - Kerry Washington, Darby Stanchfield, Bellamy Young - 'Survival of the Fittest'

Shonda Rhimes Addresses ‘Scandal’ Premiere Bump

scandal

‘Scandal’: Full Season 6 Trailer and Premiere Date Released

Scandal, Kerry Washington - 'Pencils Down'

‘Scandal’: A Second-By-Second Breakdown of the 10-Second Teaser Trailer for Season 6 (VIDEO)

Adan Canto, Maggie Q, Kal Penn, Italia Ricci, Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, Lamonica Garrett, Tanner Buchanan

ABC’s New Boss on Suspending TGIT and Bringing Kyra Sedgwick Back to TV